Device for illuminating BBs emanating from an airsoft gun and method therefor

ABSTRACT

A device for illuminating BBs emanating from an airsoft gun has a lighting element positioned proximate a breech area of the airsoft gun to illuminate the breech area. A switching device is coupled to the lighting element. A power source is coupled to the switching device and the lighting element.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to a firearm that dispensesBBs, and, more particularly, to an airsoft gun that has a device forilluminating BBs emanating from the airsoft gun so that the BBs appearto be tracer rounds.

BACKGROUND

Airsoft guns are replica firearms generally used for recreationalpurposes. Airsoft guns generally fire plastic BBs by way of compressedgas or electric and/or spring-driven pistons. Depending on the mechanismdriving the pellet, an airsoft gun can be operated manually or cycled byeither compressed gas such as Green Gas (propane and silicone mix) orC_(O2) or by compressed air via a spring or an electric motor pulling apiston.

While airsoft guns may fire hard plastic BBs, they are less dangerousthan metal BB projectiles. This may be due to the fact that the hardplastic BBs are less massive and therefore carry less momentum at agiven velocity. Hence, airsoft players often fire airsoft guns at otherplayers during airsoft games and competitions, without significantinjury (so long as eyes are well protected).

While many airsoft guns have a realistic appearance, most users maydesire a more authentic look an appearance when the airsoft gun is beingfired. For example, when using an airsoft gun, it may be desirable tosee a muzzle flash when the airsoft gun is fired. Alternatively, itfurther may be desirable to have the airsoft gun fire what appears to bea tracer round.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an airsoft gun device andmethod that overcome the above problems.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION OFTHE APPLICATION. This summary is not intended to identify key featuresof the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aidin determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A device for illuminating BBs emanating from an airsoft gun has alighting element positioned proximate a breech area of the airsoft gunto illuminate the breech area. A switching device is coupled to thelighting element. A power source is coupled to the switching device andthe lighting element.

A device for illuminating BBs emanating from an airsoft gun has alighting element positioned proximate to and in communication with abreech area of the airsoft gun to illuminate the breech area. Aswitching is device coupled to the lighting element. A power source iscoupled to the switching device and the lighting element.

A device for illuminating BBs emanating from an airsoft gun has anopening formed into a breech area of the airsoft gun. A lighting elementis positioned in the opening and in communication with a breech area ofthe airsoft gun to illuminate the breech area. A switching device iscoupled to the lighting element. A power source is coupled to theswitching device and the lighting element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an airsoft gunincorporating a device for illuminating BBs emanating from the airsoftgun;

FIG. 2 is a magnified top view of the airsoft gun shown in FIG. 1showing a breech area of the airsoft gun; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the airsoft gun depicted in FIG. 2taken along lines 3-3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawingsis intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of thedisclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which thepresent disclosure can be constructed and/or utilized. The descriptionsets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing andoperating the disclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments.It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functionsand sequences can be accomplished by different embodiments that are alsointended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 , an exemplary embodiment of an airsoft gun 10incorporating a device 12 for illuminating BBs emanating from theairsoft gun 10 may be disclosed. The airsoft gun generally may have agun body 14, a firing assembly 16, a trigger assembly 18 and a selectorswitch 20. A refill device may also be coupled to the airsoft gun 10 andmay be used to feed plastic BBs into the airsoft gun 10.

The gun body 14 may include a barrel 22, hand guard 24 and a stock orpistol grip area 26. The stock or pistol grip area 26 is generally aback portion of the airsoft gun 10. The stock or pistol grip area 26 maybe adjustable. The stock or pistol grip area 26 may be used to allow auser to grip and or hold the airsoft gun 10 to find a correctpositioning for firing the airsoft gun 10. The hand guard 24 may bepositioned towards the front of the airsoft gun 10. The hand guard 24may be used to allow a user to grip the front end of the airsoft gun 10to find a correct positioning for firing the airsoft gun 10. The barrel22 may run horizontal to and extend out from the hand guard 24. Thebarrel 22 may be used to discharge the plastic BBs from the airsoft gun10. The barrel 10 may be designed to impart a back-spin put on theplastic BBs and to increase the range via the Magnus effect.

The firing assembly 16 is generally positioned within the gun body 14.The firing assembly 16 may be used to propel the plastic BBs through thebarrel 22 and out of the airsoft gun 10. The firing assembly 16 mayinclude a cylinder member 28 having a cylinder head member 30 extendingout from the cylinder member 28. The cylinder member 28 may bepositioned in and slide within a cylinder sleeve member 32. A pistonassembly 34 may be coupled to the cylinder member 28. The pistonassembly 34 may be used to move the cylinder member 28 thereby propelthe plastic BBs through the barrel 22 and out of the airsoft gun 10. Thepiston assembly 34 may be powered by compressed gas such as Green Gas(propane and silicone mix) or C_(O2) or by compressed air via a springor an electric motor.

A trigger assembly 18 may be coupled to the firing assembly 16. Thetrigger assembly 18 may be used for actuating the piston assembly 34.The airsoft gun 10 may have a selector switch 20. The selector switch 20may be used to place the airsoft gun 10 in a safety mode, a fullyautomatic mode or a semi-automatic mode.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4 , the airsoft gun 10 may have an illuminatingcircuit 36 for illuminating the plastic BBs 38 emanating from theairsoft gun 10 so that the plastic BBs 38 appear to be tracer rounds.The illuminating circuit 36 may have a lighting element 40. The lightingelement 40 may be a single lighting element 40 or a plurality oflighting elements 40. The lighting element 40 may be a Light EmittingDiode (LED), fluorescent, incandescent or the like. The above listing isgiven as an example and should not be seen in a limiting manner. Thelighting element 40 may be comprised of one or more

The lighting element 40 may be positioned approximate a breech area 42of the airsoft gun 10. The breech area 42 may be located in a rear areaof the barrel 22. The lighting element 40 may be positioned such thatlight emanating from the lighting element 40 may penetrate into thebreech area 42, The lighting element 40 may not actually be positionedin the breech area 42. However, an opening 50 may be formed in thecylinder sleeve member 32 into the breech area 42. The opening 50 mayallow light emanating from the lighting element 40 to penetrate into thebreech area 42 without the lighting element 40 interfering with movementof any components in the breech area 42. As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, a plurality of lighting elements 40 may be aligned vertically in thebreech area 42. The plurality of lighting element 40 may be positionedproximate the opening 50 formed in the cylinder sleeve member 32 intothe breech area 42.

The device 36 may further have a switching element 43 coupled to thelighting element 40. The switching element 43 may be used to connect apower source 44 to the lighting element 40 thereby illuminating thelighting element 40. In accordance with one embodiment, the switchingelement 43 may be a normally open switch whereby pressing the switchingelement 42 closes the switching element 43 to connect the power source44 to the lighting element 40.

The switching element 43 may be positioned anywhere on the airsoft gun10. However, for ease of use of the illuminating circuit 36, theswitching element 42 may be positioned to be easily accessed by theuser. For example, in accordance with one embodiment, the switchingelement 43 may be postponed on the stock or pistol grip area 26 of theairsoft gun 10. The above is given as an example and should not be seenin a limiting manner.

The power source 44 may be a battery or the like. In accordance with oneembodiment, the power source 44 may be a rechargeable battery. The powersource 44 may be positioned in different areas of the airsoft gun 10. Ingeneral, the power source 44 may be located in an area of the airsoftgun 10 that may be easily accessible.

In operation, once the firing assembly 16 has set, the user may pressthe switching element 43 to illuminate the lighting element 40. This mayallow light emanating from the lighting element 40 to shine on a plasticpellet 38 in the breech area 42 of the barrel 22. If the plastic BBs 38are coated with a photoluminescent material, the plastic BBs 38 mayre-emit the radiation absorbed from the light emanating from thelighting element 40. In accordance with one embodiment, thephotoluminescent material may be a phosphorescent material. Thephosphorescent material may not immediately re-emit the radiation itabsorbs. The slower time scales of the re-emission may allow theabsorbed radiation to be re-emitted at a lower intensity for a longerperiod of time.

Thus, the lighting element 40 illuminates each plastic pellet 38 as eachplastic pellet enters the breech area 42 of the barrel 22. The plasticBBs 38 then may re-emit the radiation absorbed from the lighting element40 as each plastic pellet 38 exits the barrel 22. Thus, the glowingplastic BBs 38 may be visible when the air gun 10 is fired in darkenedrooms and or outside at night thereby appearing as tracer rounds.

While embodiments of the disclosure have been described in terms ofvarious specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognizethat the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced withmodifications within the spirit and scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device causing a phosphorescent projectile toglow when expelled from an airsoft gun comprising: an internal lightingelement contained inside an airsoft gun housing; an opening formed in acylinder sleeve member of the airsoft gun; a switching device coupled tothe internal lighting element; and an airsoft gun battery coupled to theswitching device and the internal lighting element; wherein the internallighting element illuminates through the opening formed in the cylindersleeve member illuminating phosphorescent bbs contained inside thecylinder sleeve member before they are expelled from the airsoft gun. 2.The device of claim 1 wherein the lighting element is internal andilluminates inward into the cylinder sleeve member.
 3. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the phosphorescent projectile is caused to glow in thedark when expelled from the airsoft gun.
 4. A device causing aphosphorescent projectile to glow in the dark when expelled from anairsoft gun comprising: an internal lighting element contained inside ahousing of the airsoft gun; and a transparent cylinder sleeve member;wherein illumination from the internal lighting element comes intocommunication with a phosphorescent bb through a wall of the transparentcylinder sleeve member, the phosphorescent bb absorbs the illuminationthrough the wall of the cylinder sleeve member and glows.
 5. The deviceof claim 4 wherein the internal lighting element illumination isdirected inward and penetrates the wail of the transparent cylindersleeve member.
 6. The device of claim 4 wherein the internal lightingelement communicates with the phosphorescent bb inside causing it toglow in the dark.
 7. The device of claim 4 wherein the phosphorescent bbis caused to glow in the dark when expelled from the airsoft gun.